Peanutbutter Williams & Jelly serving up sticky electronic jams

There are few things more exciting than an explosive concert or the introduction of a new genre of music. Thanks to local electronic music producers and performers Peanutbutter Williams & Jelly, Toledo has the chance to experience both on a regular basis.

Performing at the monthly DubtronicA shows at the Rocket Bar, the duo shares new music and performs a live electronic show at least once every four weeks.

Peanutbutter Williams & Jelly are not just DJs playing electronic dance music and dubstep. According to Williams, “We are musical freedom. We produce and play what’s called purple music. Purple music is classic jazz, funk, blues and R&B and mixed with very new electronic pieces. It’s a new blend that people haven’t heard before, but it has that classic flavor from back in the day. It’s not regular electro; it’s very funky.”

Peanutbutter & Jelly were both members of the live electro/dubstep band The Living Dead for nearly 20 years.

“We’re still together but we’re all pursuing new artistic avenues, we’re interested in different art,” Williams said. “We didn’t want to explore these avenues with The Living Dead. It was its own entity and we wanted to spread our wings so to speak, reach a larger audience.”

Peanut Butter Williams & Jelly

To reach that elusive larger audience, Peanutbutter Williams & Jelly are making infectious music that is upbeat, happy and edgy. While many may ask how an electronic duo can perform live, Peanutbutter Williams & Jelly are clearly involved in morphing and creating music at their shows.

“We’re not just DJing,” Williams said. “We spin our own music and we run our DJ rigs through all kinds of electronic toys and tools. We are literally making new music on the spot at every show. We are resampling, playing keys and using electronic manipulation tools like the Kaoss Pad while spinning four or five other songs to create something fresh. We get very live.”

While live shows are an important part of what Peanutbutter Williams & Jelly do musically, they are also working on an EP.

“We are past the production stages, now we are mixing and mastering,” Williams said. “Once the EP is complete we will be booking more shows, touring regionally and spreading this new sound as far as we can.”

The pair isn’t waiting for the completion of the album to book more shows. On April 11, Peanutbutter Williams & Jelly will open for Detroit-born dubstep producer GRiZ. The 22-year-old GRiZ is making a lot of noise nationally, forging a reputation for his muisc.

“It’s an honor to open for GRiZ. Anytime a group gets to open for a national act it’s a big deal, a step in the right direction,” Williams said.

Peanutbutter Williams & Jelly are performing at Dubtronica on April 6 at the Rocket Bar, 135 S. Byrne Road. Doors open at 9 p.m. General admission is $5. The GRiZ show on April 11 is at the Clazel Theatre in Bowling Green, 127 N. Main St. Doors for the GRiZ show open at 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $18 at the Clazel box office.